Types of Microscopes Comparison Chart
Directions: Use your notes, book, and even the internet to fill in the chart below. Then use your information to complete the
Venn Diagrams on the back.
TEM Transmission
Electron Microscope
No
Dead Only
SEM Scanning
Electron Microscope
No
Dead Only
2D mainly, sometimes it 3D
can seem 3D, especially
if viewing live
organisms.
The surface, however
Does it allow you to see Inside, although
inside the cells or does sometime the surface
if the specimen is very
it provide an image of
thin or light coated you
the surface?
can see internal organs.
What type of
Up to 2,000X
Usually up to 40X
magnification can it
At school,
At school 10X and 30X
attain? In other words, 40X/100X/400X
how many X ?
2D
3D
Inside, with great
detail, even inside cell
organelles.
Give examples of the
type of living things and
parts or structures of
living things that can be
observed using this
type of microscope.
Acceptable responses
Surface of small
insects and other
animals, pollen grains,
plant parts. High
Magnification and
Resolution.
Surface
In great detail awesome
to see small animals this
way.
1,500,000X and even
greater, possibly
50,000,000X. Not at
school, great images on
internet though
Acceptable responses
Inside cells in great
detail, including inside
cell organelles with
details. High
Magnification and
Resolution.
Can it be used to see or
study actual living
organisms? Yes or No
Light Compound
Microscope
Yes
Alive or Dead
Dissecting/
Stereomicroscope
Yes
Alive or Dead
Does it produce a visual
image that is 3D or a
flat 2D image?
Acceptable responses
Plant, Animal, Protist,
Bacteria, or Fungi cells
Nucleus, Cell Wall, Cell
Membrane, Chloroplast
High Magnification, but
lower resolution
Acceptable responses
Insects, worms, leaves,
inside of fruits,
mushrooms, your hand or
fingers. Low
Magnification
High Resolution than light
compound often
Up to 200,000X
Not at school, go to
college or a museum to
get trained.
Light
Compound
1. Higher Mag.
2. Lower Resolution
3. See cell organelles
4. See inside or
through specimens
Scanning
SEM
TEM